Why do people call Earthbound not an RPG. And call Undertale an RPG?

[Raxo]

Makes no sense huh?

Undertale is basicly a game with funny text and memes.

While earthbound you have diffirent attacks and spells, and 3 characters to play at the same time!

DO NOT COMPARE THIS GAME TO EARTHBOUND

[MythlyInari]

I think it's the other way around.

Undertale's RPG elements are very minor compared to Earthbound, since Undertale's focus is elsewhere.

[Growlithekid1]

I have literally never heard anyone say Earthbound is not an RPG. Plus, why wouldn't you compare the 2? Undertale was inspired by Earthbound after all.

Edit: fixed a typo.

[(Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr]

I've never heard anyone say EarthBound isn't an RPG before. It is...

[🎧🎶-Kamyarm007-🎶🎧]

Must be the media twisting word around again, man people these days falling for such BS.

[Raxo]

Originally posted by 💗Acrid💗:

I think it's the other way around.

Undertale's RPG elements are very minor compared to Earthbound, since Undertale's focus is elsewhere.

Thank you for not spurging swears at me for no reason.

I think this game is more focused at the dialog rather than combat

[Cocyx The Gay Skeleton]

not sure where you heard earthbound isn't an RPG? this game is specifically designed to subvert RPG tropes

[MythlyInari]

Originally posted by Blüe:

Originally posted by 💗Acrid💗:

I think it's the other way around.

Undertale's RPG elements are very minor compared to Earthbound, since Undertale's focus is elsewhere.

Thank you for not spurging swears at me for no reason.

I think this game is more focused at the dialog rather than combat

You're welcome.

And, well, the defense side of combat is what's focused on. The RPG elements of leveling up, strategizing your gear and items is minimal compared to most other games. The combat itself is QTE, so it's a little more involved than, say, Final Fantasy. The defending part of the combat is the most seen one and the one with the most work put into it.

[(Edgy) Asriel Dreemurr]

Originally posted by Blüe:

Originally posted by 💗Acrid💗:

I think it's the other way around.

Undertale's RPG elements are very minor compared to Earthbound, since Undertale's focus is elsewhere.

Thank you for not spurging swears at me for no reason.

I think this game is more focused at the dialog rather than combat

What Undertale is trying to do is make an analysis of the common tropes RPGs use to entice players, and show why these tropes can be seen in a negative light in a world that functions similar to our own. The desire to level up, gain exp, and defeat enemies is literally the main villain of this game, and if you gave the fallen human your name, it's you. Even things like saving and resetting your game are given a deeper context in this game, some of which is seen as being bad.

[DankSlayer]

Simple. Earthbound is JRPG - a game where you go down a long path while ocasionally entering some dungeons and grinding for hours to beat the next boss. Also your choices don't mean sh*t.

Undertale is RPG because your choices actually matter and there's a ton of endings. After watching a let's play of Earthbound I saw everything this game had to offer and there's no need for me to play it. Meanwhile while playing Undertale I constantly find new secrets and dialogues.

So Earthbound is a JRPG, and Undertale is a normal RPG.

[Strider VM]

This is actually the first time I have heard that Earthbound is not an RPG. However said that must be smoking something nice.

This game has very little RPG style to the point I consider this a visual novel with light RPG mechanics.